Pipe-cap for electric conduits



J. C. PHELPS.

PIPE CAP FOR ELECTRIC CO NDUITS. APPLICATION FILED AUG-l9, 1915.

1,378,195. Patented Mdy17,1921.

INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. PHELPS, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS; CHARLES W. JAMES, JR., ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID JAMES C. PHELPS, DECEASED.

PIPE-CAP FOR ELECTRIC CONDUITS.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented May 17, 1921.

Application filed August 19, 1915. Serial No. 46,331.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I JAMES C. PHELPS, a citizen of the United states of America, residing in the city of Springfield, county of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Caps for Electric Conduits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pipe caps for electric conduits and is particularly designed for outdoor use where the conduits are attached to the side of the buildin in an upright position. I

Iy present invention comprises, in general, a cap formed of two members of insulating material, one of which may be termed the base member, and is secured directly to the upper endof the conduit by threading the same thereon and the top or cap member proper is secured to the base member by means of suitable bolts or screws. The two members are preferably formed by molding the insulating material.

Referring to the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improve ment as assembled, showing in dotted lines the channels or grooves through which the individual wires pass;

Fig. 2 is a vertical. sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, clearly illustrating the interior construction, also showing the lip or projection that is molded with the base member for closing the outlet end of one of the grooves in the cap;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the manner of attaching the cap to the base member, also showing an inserted piece of metal for reinforcing the base part that is adjacent the threads in this member;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the base member with the cap removed;

Fig. 5 is a View of the underside of the cap clearly illustrating the grooves in which the separate wires are placed;

Fig. 6 is an underside view of the cap and base-member in an assembled position of the parts, showing the wires in place;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal plan view on the line 77 of Fig. 2 showing the wires in place; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. I

Referring to the drawings in detail-1 designates the base member and 2 the cap member. The base member is formed with a threaded part 3 which threads are preferably formed or molded at the same time that the base member is molded. The upper end is formed with a curved outlet opening 4. 5 is a threaded opening to receive the screws 6 for securing the cap 2 to the base member. Inserted within the member 1. is a reinforcing ring 7 of metahforthe purpose of strengthening this part of the device to prevent breakage when the base part is threaded onto the conduit. The upper partof the base member is formed with a flat uppersurface 8 and having an upstanding part 9 which forms the outlet 4 referred to above. The rear part of the member 1 is flattened as indicated at 10 in order that the outlet cap or device may rest firmly against the wall of the building. The base member 1 is formed with a projection or lip 11 as clearly shown in the figure. This projection is designed for closing the middle one of the grooves in the cap, three of which are indicated at 12, 13, and 14, in Fig. 5 for spreading and embedding the wires. As shown, this projection is designed for closing the outlet end of the groove 13 in cap 2. These grooves which are clearly shown in Fig. 5 are spread out in a fan-shaped manner. The object of arranging these grooves in this manner is for the purpose of embedding and spreading the entrance wires 15, 16, and 17, shown in Fig. 6 in a separated manner. If a three wire system is used the projection 11 must be broken off to permit the third wire, indicated at 16, to be inserted. If a two-wire system is employed, only the wires 15 and 17 will be used and they will be inserted in the grooves 12 and 14. In order to remove the projection 11 it is only necessary for the workman to break elf the projection 11 with a hammer or other suit-- able tool. The upper edge of the projection 11 is formed with a notch indicated at 11, for forming a narrow connecting neck portion between the projection and'the base member, whereby the projection may be readily broken oif.

In installing the cap it is only necessary to thread the conduit into the base member 1 and draw the wires down through the conduit and then place the cap 2 on the base member 1, securing the same by means of the screws 6, taking care to spread the wires and locate them in the grooves 12, 13 and 14 of the cap. The underside of the cap 2 is formed with a curved recess to receive the upstanding part 9 of the base member. For the purpose of adjusting the cap 2 accurately, also for forming a water-tight joint, shoulders 18 are provided and against which correspondingly shaped shoulders 18 on the cap 2 engage, as shown in the bottom plan view in Fig. 5. The cap may, of course, have more than three grooves and more than one may be closed by a lip.

What I claim is:

1. An outlet cap for conduits, comprising a base member formed with interior threads thereon for attachment to the conduit, a reinforcing ring embedded in the base member, the upper surface of the base member having a flat surface and formed with an upwardly projecting border, an opening through the projection communicating with the threaded member of the base, a cap for attachment to the base member, the inner upper surface of the cap having a plurality of separated grooves formed therein for the purpose of spreading the wires as they emerge from the base member, and means for attaching the cap to the base member, as described.

2. An outlet cap for electric wires, comprising in combination, a base member having a rib portion which surrounds the outlet end of the base member, a cap formed with a shoulder for engaging the rib portion, said cap having recesses or grooves that converge toward the axis of the cap for spreading the wires, and means for attaching the cap to the base member.

3. An outlet cap for electric conduits comprising a base and cap member, means for attaching the base member to the conduit, said base member having an opening for the wires to pass therethrough, means for attaching the cap to the base member, the cap having a plurality of grooves formed in its inner upper surface for spreading the wires and one edge ofthe cap overhanging the base member, the base having a projection for closing the outlet end of one of said grooves, and when the projection is broken ofl that one of said grooves is opened for drawing a -wire through the cap.

4:. An outlet for electric wires, comprising, a base and cap member, means for securing the same together, the base and cap member having engaging shoulders lying in vertical planes for adjusting one member relative to the other, and grooves in the cap for embedding the wires for permanently separating the inlet wires from each other.

5. An outlet cap for closing the end of an electric conduit, comprising a base and cap member, the cap having grooves formed in its inner upper surface for permanently spreading the wires, means for securing the members together, and means for attaching the base to the conduit.

6. An outlet cap for conduits,comprising a base and cap member, the base having an inlet opening for the wires, means for attaching the cap to the base the cap having a plurality of grooves formed in its inner upper surface forspreading the wires, and the base having an integral projection to close the outlet end of one of the grooves.

7. An outlet cap for conduits comprising in combination, separate base and cap members, the base having an inlet opening for the wires, means for attaching the base to the conduit, means for attaching the cap to the base, the cap having channels or grooves which converge toward the axis of the cap for embedding and spreading the wires adjacent the point where they emerge from the inlet opening in the base.

8. An outlet cap for conduits, comprising in combination, a base and cap, means for attaching the base to the cap, the cap having separate channels to receive each of thewires and the base having a projection for closing one of the openings.

9. A service entrance cap comprising two sections, one mounted upon the other, the upper section being formed with a cavity and with grooves in the lower face thereof opening at their ends through an under outer face of said section and the lower sec tion being formed with a vertical passage therethrough opening into the cavity, and

means for holding the sections together, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

- 10. A service entrance cap comprising upper and lower sections separable along a face of the top section, and means for holding the sections together, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. A service entrance cap comprising upper and lower sections separable along a plane extending in a general horizontal direction, the upper section being formed. with a cavity and downwardly extending grooves in its lower face, the grooves opening into the cavity, and the other section being formed with a vertical passage opening into the cavity and with a hub around the upper end of the vertical passage, the hubfitting into the lower portion of the cavity, and means for holding the sections together substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witness HARRY W. BOWEN. 

